Lacrosse Hall of Famer A. Norman Webb Jr. leaves $4.5 Million to US Lacrosse

BALTIMORE — A. Norman Webb Jr., a member of the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame, left a bequest to US Lacrosse estimated at $4.5 million—the largest gift ever received by the organization. Webb passed away on August 20, 2004.

"Lacrosse played an integral role in Norm Webb's life, and he spent much of his life giving back to the sport," said Pat Dillon, chair of the US Lacrosse Board of Directors. "This gift will allow the sport he loved so dearly to continue to prosper. We are extremely grateful for his generosity and devotion."

US Lacrosse, a non-profit organization with more than 160,000 members around the country, is the national governing body for the sport of lacrosse. US Lacrosse offers programs essential to the development of the sport, such as coaches and officials training and start-up grants. US Lacrosse also promotes the sport through vehicles such as Lacrosse Magazine and the National Teams Program and preserves the sport's history in the Lacrosse Museum and National Hall of Fame.

"Norm was a leader and selfless contributor in so many ways throughout his life," said Steve Stenersen, executive director of US Lacrosse. "We are incredibly honored by his passion for the sport and his belief in the potential of US Lacrosse to represent and serve the sport. Norm's gift will enable us to expand national programming, bolster our modest endowment, and, potentially help provide a solution to our current facility challenges. It's wonderful that his legacy will be a source of motivation and support for many years to come."

In appreciation for this gift, the A. Norman Webb Jr. Legacy Society has been established to honor Norm’s historic bequest and recognize those who follow in his example of leadership by making a planned gift to US Lacrosse or the US Lacrosse Foundation.

Webb was a two-time first team All-America goalie at Army, receiving the Sidney M. Cone Award as the nation's outstanding goalie in 1963 and 1964. He was also an honorable mention All-America selection in 1962. He was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1983.

After a visit to the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1992, Webb wrote, "I was thrilled by how well lacrosse's past is being depicted in your display cases. I shed a few tears in seeing some of the faces of the 'great ones' who touched my life."

"Lacrosse was his life and that's not overstating it," said Bill Annan, a lifelong friend and teammate at West Point. "He just lived for lacrosse. He always made time for it and he loved being out there doing anything he could for the kids."

After his playing career was over, Webb gave back to the sport that had given him so much. Considered by some the "Godfather" of San Diego lacrosse, Webb played a leading role in helping the sport spread to the West Coast.

Webb started a club program in the San Francisco area in the early 1970s before moving to Southern California. He started the San Dieguito Lacrosse Club and the Old Mission Beach Athletic Club Lacrosse Team, serving as a coach for both teams. In 1976, Webb helped launch a club team at San Diego State University and, in 1977, he helped start the San Diego Youth lacrosse league. He coached at the youth level in a variety of sports.

His efforts have helped California become one of the fastest-growing lacrosse areas in the country. The California Interscholastic Federation sanctioned lacrosse as a high school sport in 2001 and the state is now home to two professional indoor teams, more than 10,000 active players and three US Lacrosse chapters—Greater Los Angeles, Northern California and San Diego.

"He really was a role model to every young lacrosse player in that region," said Mitch Fenton, a Los Angeles lawyer who played on the San Diego State team that Webb helped start. "He just had great leadership inspiring people to do things on and off the field. There were hundreds of people that he influence on and that continued right up to last year when he was an assistant coach for the University of San Diego."

Away from lacrosse, Webb had a distinguished career of service to his country. He was one of the most decorated combat officers in his West Point class. His military career included two tours in Vietnam, one tour in Korea. He was awarded two Silver Stars, four Bronze Medals - one with the "V" device, one Purple Heart, The Combat Infantryman Badge, Air Medal with numeral 6, Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Silver Star, the Army Commendation Medal and other decorations.

Originally from Baltimore, Webb began his lacrosse career at the Gilman School, where he received the lacrosse team's Unsung Hero Award. He graduated from Gilman in 1960.

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